A reader writes:
My husband's company has offered him a transfer to the Philadelphia area. We are thinking about taking it, but we don't know anything about the region. The most important thing to us is church. Do you know if there are good Orthodox parishes around the city or its suburbs, churches where young families are active? Where are they? We're a crunchy conservative family interested in homeschooling, farmer's markets etc., and would be more likely to make this move if we could be confident that we could find a reasonably vibrant community of Orthodox and other young Christian families. If you don't know, would you please ask your readers?
I don't know, but I'm pleased to pass this along. Also, if any readers want to know anything similar about other regions of the country, please take this opportunity to post your questions on the combox thread. For anyone thinking of relocating to Dallas, I can tell you it's easier than anywhere I've lived to find good churches with involved young families -- if you're Orthodox, our cathedral uptown is a great place -- and also good religious schools. This is a great place to raise kids. But the weather -- the summer heat, I mean -- is really, really difficult to deal with.
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Yeah, our parish I mentioned above, Holy Ascension, is one of the missions from St. Philip's that Andrew is talking about. Our priest is attentive and patient, our choir is good, we have lots of little kids and a healthy mix of converts and cradles. There are several families at our parish I think you could describe as crunchy cons. All we don't have is a permanent building, but that's about to change, and meanwhile our digs are still pretty comfortable. Check us out www.holyascension.net/
St. Andrew's is a very vibrant parish in Philadelphia. It's the oldest Orthodox parish in Philadelphia and has been reinvigorated by many young Russian immigrants since 1991. Services are in Slavonic and English and the priests are excellent.
Hello All,
As a young adult who lived in Philly for his college years, I can honestly says 2 things about your search for a church in the region:
1) Every last flavor of ethnic/non-ethnic is represented
2) There isn't a single church I would point inquirers too
So it really comes down to what you're looking for and how far you want to drive. Honestly, every single church has some glaring flaw that keeps it from being THE church in the city where the people who "get it" (I mean that ironically) go to. If a parish has good liturgics, the people are iffy. If the people are awesome, the liturgics are wonky. There's no perfect situation. And let's keep in mind - we're talking about the Northeast here. Life is fast and harsh, and Christ is not in the picture for the majority of the people living there. Either you keep the faith seriously and you end up being weird, or you're non-chalant about it but you fit into the broader framework of the region. Both statements are true anywhere of course, but to a greater extent in Philly.
In my experience, in the Northeast there's always one or two parishes in any of the major cities that is THE parish for the converts and cradles who really value their faith. Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, Holy Virgin Cathedral or Mercy House in Manhattan, Holy Cross in Baltimore/Linithicum (amoung others, of course) - no such parish exists in Philadelphia. I value immensely all of my experineces as an Orthodox and all the wonderful people that I met in Philadelphia. The city even has been blessed with a weeping icon. And nor have I visited every last parish, of which there is something like 40 in the region. It's just a tough town to be authentically Christian in, which is why I didn't stay there after my college years.
With respect to Former's negative experiences (not denying them, not one detail), 4 years as a college student is just not going to give you a balanced view of the Philly metro region.
My family moved here in 1961. I have lived and worked here for all but a couple of years since. I have, I believe, an objective view of things here never having been a Christian and being since 1975 an avowed pagan.
That's why the assertion [i]t's just a tough town to be authentically Christian in... is just plain horse pucky. There are millions* of Christians of every denomination here who would, in good Philly tradition, roll their eyes and give you the finger for that remark.
Go ahead and bring your tensions with other Christians to the table. I've seen every variation of that in coming up on 50 years here. But when you make that sort of decision, kindly make it for yourself and phrase it in those terms.
* The Delaware Valley region with Philly at its hub, extending to Delaware and Maryland to the south, Lancaster to the west and Trenton to the north. It is as diverse as it gets, but we all think of ourselves as Philadelphians (even the ones who add a pejorative twist to it).
Hi! It's wonderful to hear that you're moving to the area! I can wholeheartedly recommend that you visit Holy Ascension Antiochian Orthodox Church (http://www.holyascension.net/). We're a growing mission parish in the suburbs, near Valley Forge Park. I don't know a whole lot about the other Orthodox churches in the area. I was just chrismated on Holy Saturday and am pretty new to all of this. I do think you'd find some kindred spirits at Holy Ascension though. My godmother and her husband have 9 children and homeschool some of them, maybe all at one point. Just at coffee hour last Sunday she was talking about the benefits of herbs and teas over pharmaceutical drugs. :) If we're not close to where you're moving, others from the church might be able to suggest another parish. I hope we see you soon! Feel free to contact me if I can help with anything else.
Cheerfully, Katie
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